The Washington critic., 1887-04-26
AT THE THEATRES.

ALrAt CH's-1HE OPERA "Rt DDYG OHE."
Wien the curtain falls upoi the second
set II Gllbtrt and Sulllyau's latest opera
the spectators turn away with feeling OF
disappointment It has been well staged
wei ttcd AMI well sung, and when that Is
all irthltg can be ad led. Bat while, a'
a whole the opera Is disappointment, yet
there oie number Of taking alrs, else H.
could not he Gilbert and Sulllvan's. R1'e
li1tLtd Miss Marion Manola) sings a
ballad in the first act that ne0essltates some
dainty "busness" that is quite fascinating.
Ibis duet between Robin Olkdpplc (Dlgby
Bell and Rose was prettily sung
know youth who loves little maid.
tllcy, but his face Is q sight for te see);
Silent is he, for he's modest and afraid,
tllcy, but he's timid as youth can bel
Eobih sings o catchy song about the af.
Fiction OF being cursed as he Is with a dif.
ildent nature, and trio sung by Richard
DdmtcSs tllarry McDonough), Robin and
Rose is one Of the gems OF the first act.
Annie Myers astonlshed all her old friends
by the ability she developed In her por.
tfayal Of Mad MlrgdN. Her voice has i'm.
proved, too. The opera is weak In its
cholusts, not characteristic OF Sulllvan's
work. Nothing but praise can be given the
cast. The III retto is so dreary or perhaps,
It's wit is so subtle, Dgby Bell occasionally
introduces extrancous by.play to relieve Its
dullness.
The story OF the opera is simple. The
baronets Of Ruddygore have been con-
demned to commit crime u day because
one had burned a witch alive. The twenty
second barOnet disguised himself as young
farmer, under the name OF Robin Olkdpplc,
and bis younger brother was forced to sue
ceed to the title. Meanwhile Robin fell in
love with Rose, the village maiden. But he
was discovered ard the curtain rises on the
second act disclosing him, the twenty.sec-
ond baronet, In his castle, surrounded by
portraits Of his ancestors lie shrinks from
his fate, but the spirits Of his ancestors ap.
pear ard urge hin on to crime. But he
finally escsI.s, and In thi. way. lie con.
fronts the ghost Of Si' RJicic WrgtifDM
lis predecessor
RoriS-hu idea has Just occurred 10 mo
\ bGroret Of Rudlysorc can only die through
refusing To- commit his daily C'ime.
ron No doubt
PopS Therefore. TO refuse to commit
daiiy crime is iantamount To suicide.
luu-lt would seem so.
RoriN-"nt suicide Is i'sc.fa a "rinc. and so
by your own showing you ought never to have
GiCd at all.
Ard everything ends happily, Rojm Sc.
curing Hn'c
THE NATIONAL -EoBERr DOWNING.
Notwithstanding the dlscourseing weather
last night there was large audience at the
National Theatre to see the rising and al
ready almost emineut young actor, Robert
| Downing. The character Of SpdrilchS is
one which is admirably suited to Mr.. Down
ing. His wonderful physique and rugged
features make him look every inch
| gladiator. lie shows commendable pru-
dence In not attempting repertoire. As
| Spdridous he is admirable, and he has made
| the public familiar with him at his best
There are many points in Mr.. Downing's
| performance which indicate the young
actor, but none which would indicate
lack OF genuine dramatic talent OF the
highest order. His voice though powerful
and susceptible to the most delicate shades
OF moduation, Is, nevertheless, at times
somewhat harsh and rasping. The manner
In which Mr.. Downing was received must
have been very gratifying. He was given
q curtain recall at the close OF each act, and
after the performance was over responded
to a call for Il speech. lie thanked the
audience for their approval, and spoke in
the most kindly terms of his manager, Mr..
Mack, TO whom, he said, is due the greater
portion Of the credit for his success. The
supporting company, is a good one. Mr..
steadily advanced in the favor OF his audience
until, in the last act he had completely
won them. There is little doubt that this
weeks engagement will be royal welcome
home to Mr. Downing.
HARRIS rIJoU-"sILvER KING"
1t is unnecessary to say that there were
large audiences at Harris yesterday.
large audience is almost as much matter
OF course at this theatre as the play itself
"The silver King' is presented by King
lle0ly with an excellent supporting com
pany This engagement can he regarded ~
strictly In accUrdunce with the manage
mepts expressed intel tlon TO present only
irst.class attrsctiors Al popular prices. tn.
"sil5er King" ranks among the standsrd
melodfoinas of the day. aud Is play which
no one should fail to see.
EEESAN's.-'souR MiSsTnEi. BoYsn
"Our Minstrel Boys played to goot
audiences yesterday, aud can be set dow
for big business during the eutire week
Sbm. Weston is us funny MS ever and h
sol u ueytr fsil ~ secure rs mNny encore
as lie is ahle 10 r. sIiOnd to "Our Minstre
| Boys,n which Is described on the bills as
sensational comedy, Is made the means o.
ihirtGucipg the mu'ical specialties and tn
fun which have IN lle the Weston Brother
.uth siIoug fs, oriirs | eret' fore. II com
biuis the attrn' I on uf - comedy, a melo
drama aid Il irst-class Oip entertainment
TEsTlMONIAI G CINCERT.
The testimonial concert teudered to th
little Ford sisters, to take place at tn, Con
grcgationsl Church Tomorrow Wednesday
evening, promises to be one Of the most en-
iertaining of the season. In addition /
Professor BischoiI, who will act as musica
director, some Of the leading talent Of tn
city have been engaged, including Nine
, Kaspar, the Washington Quartette, Colout
Z G. q. I.eiller, Miss Maude Gruelle, Mr.. L. j
Whpple and Oracle and Cherry Ford. Tn
Young ladies to whom this concert Is ten
dered may be considered musical prodige
and are well known to the public, havn
appeared In several leading concerts thi
winter. There is no doubt that their pei
formance will be OF most delightful chal
acter.
GRAND PIANO CONCERT.
A concert is to be given at the Congr,
gational Church on Saturday evening mex
by the beautiful Egyptian artistic, NIL,
Atala Ramleh, pianiste to His Hghness th
= Khedive, and also an accomplished SOM
a stress, who has achieved distinguishe
a success both in Italy and France, and ht
= every where been received with enthusiast
! applause. Fillipi, the great musical crit
q OF Milan, says that her work Is classic an
technique perfect, the player being e
pecially at home In the music OF Bacl
scarlatti, Galluppl, and other old master
Her programme for Saturday evening II
. cludes selections not only from these, bl
from Chopin, schumaDn and Liszt, and WI
, given with great applause at Chickerln
! Hall, New York, last Saturday.
! | The Triull uf n fRennr